City Go Nap At Worcester

Last updated : 25 March 2005 By Kev Monks
WORCESTER CITY 1-5 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
Fours goals in a good second half saw Coventry City go nap in the Carl Heeley Testimonial match at Worcester City.
Adrian Heath fielded a mixture of first team and reserve team players with seven of the players who featured against Fulham Reserves on Monday night getting a start alongside Michael Doyle,Richard Shaw, Dele Adebola and Isaac Osbourne.
New boy Shaun Goater was named in the side but had to start on the bench with Craig Reid, Liam Nicell and Gary O'Toole after arriving late at St Georges Lane.
"Man Of The Night" Carl Heeley who has played 513 times for the Conference North club was given a standing ovation as he entered the pitch.
However he could do nothing as City took the lead in the third minute when Eddy Johnson played the ball out to Dele Adebola on the left. The Nigerian charged down the flank before cutting inside and finding Neil Wood who curled the ball to the right hand side of the penalty area for Andy Morrell to drill low into the net.
The former Wrexham striker was involved six minutes later when Michael Doyle and Johnson combined for Morrell to bear down on goal before Worcester keeper Danny O'Donnell dived at his feet to block the ball.
The Sky Blues were controlling the game with Neil Wood running the midfield whilst Andy Hall attacked the home side down the left flank.
City forced a number of corners whilst Worcester's only chance fell for former Nuneaton Borough striker Leon Kelly who fired wide from eight yards.
The latter part of the opening period saw more chances for the Sky Blues with Neil Wood, Doyle and Andy Whing all keeping McDonnell busy.
In the 40th minute, a mistake by Hall let in John Snape, however Jonny Tuffey was alert and saved with his feet. Shaun Cooney cleared the danger and they broke for Andy Morrell to fire in a shot which McDonnell got down to save.
At half-time, both sides made changes. Shaun Goater was given his debut replacing Adebola whilst Liam Nicell took over from Richard Shaw.

Pic The Goat Makes His Debut
The Goat Makes His Debut

Within four minutes of the restart, City had doubled their tally as Neil Wood broke free down the left before rifling a low effort into the far corner of the net.
The reply from the home side was immediate and within seconds, a terrific shot from Snape crashed against the crossbar and bounced down for substitute James Smith to beat Tuffey from close range.
In the 62nd minute, City went further ahead much to the delight of around a hundred City supporters in a crowd of 624. Andy Morrell who had taken over as captain was brought down and a free kick awarded by referee Stephen Dorr. Michael Doyle took the kick and sent over a long ball towards the far post. Sean Cooney rose and nodded the ball down for Eddy Johnson to sweep the ball into the net from six yards.
Adrian Heath made his third change of the evening just after an Isaac Osbourne shot had been deflected for a corner, with Craig Reid coming on for Michael Doyle.
The Coventry born striker dropped into the left side of midfield allowing Goater and Johnson to continue to push on.
When the corner did come in, Osbourne looped a powerful header towards the goal, Andy Morrell nodded on and substitute keeper Lewis Skyers made a one handed save to fist the ball over the bar.
"Feed The Goat And He Will Score" may have been the song on the lips of the Coventry supporters who were clearly enjoying this game, but in reality, the Goat only had one real chance. This came in the 67th minute when Eddy Johnson freed the Bermudan who raced forwards before firing a couple of foot wide of Skyers goal from ten yards.
In the 71st minute, Eddy Johnson bagged his second goal of the evening when he got on the end of an Andy Morrell cross. Johnson's effort was not particularly fierce but Skyers could not deal with it and allowed the ball to squirm away from his clutches and into the net.
A late challenge on Andy Morrell saw him replaced in the 72nd minute by Gary O'Toole who three minutes later rounded off a good night's work for the Sky Blues when he picked up on a lovely through ball from Wood before coolly smashing the ball past Skyers from eight yards.
Craig Reid kept Skyers busy with a well executed shot on the turn from twenty yards before the City supporting Carl Heeley was substituted with seven minutes left.
The smile on his face said it all as the Bloxwich born defender who joined Worcester in 1994 left the field of play to a standing ovation. He had thoroughly enjoyed his well deserved evening and so had the City supporters and players.

pic Heeley leaves after a memorable night.


HT WCFC 0-1 CCFC FT WCFC 1-5 CCFC
ATT 624
GOALS Andy Morrell (3)
Neil Wood (48)
James Smith (48)
Eddy Johnson (62 & 71)
Gary O'Toole (75)
Man Of The Match - Liam Nicell was excellent in the second half, Andy Hall battled well as did Neil Wood
TEAM
Tuffey,Whing,A.Hall,Doyle (Reid 66),Cooney, Shaw (Nicell 46),Morrell (O'Toole 72), Osbourne,Adebola (Goater 46),Johnson,Wood